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The Clinchfield Loops - J: Speedy Tunnel

McDowell County, North Carolina

Photos 

Photo taken by Calvin Sneed in March 2012

Enlarge

BH Photo #227050

Map 

Description 

One of only 2 tunnels in the 17-tunnel Clinchfield Loops segment that is completely lined with concrete. Although it is slight skewed, configuration of the tunnel in relation to the three nearest it, suggests that Speedy Tunnel was designed to prevent a much more difficult skew of the line around a small rock outcropping of the Blue Ridge, necessitating a speed reduction of trains ascending and descending the mountain; hence the name "Speedy" Tunnel.

Facts 

Overview
Tunnel under Short Extension of the Blue Ridge on Clinchfield Railroad (now CSX)
Location
McDowell County, North Carolina
Status
Open to traffic
History
Built as part of the S & W's Altapass to Marion segment; rehabilitated 1914
Railroads
- CSX Railroad (CSX)
- Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroad (CCO; Clinchfield)
- South & Western Railway (S&W)
Design
2 concrete portals, north and south, tunnel completely lined in concrete
Dimensions
Total length: 288.0 ft.
Deck width: 18.0 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 22.0 ft.
Also called
Speedy Tunnel
Approximate latitude, longitude
+35.86211, -82.02708   (decimal degrees)
35°51'44" N, 82°01'37" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
17/407269/3969141 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Little Switzerland
Elevation
2291 ft. above sea level
Inventory number
BH 51627 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Built 1914 (848)
Built during 1910s (9,968)
CSX Railroad (1,763)
Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroad (55)
McDowell County, North Carolina (34)
North Carolina (1,033)
 Open (40,960)
Owned by railroad (13,491)
Railroad (16,451)
South & Western Railway (18)
Total length 250-500 feet (5,505)
Tunnel (1,359)

Update Log 

  • March 6, 2012: Added by Calvin Sneed

Sources 

  • Calvin Sneed - us43137415 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Comments 

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